Foot-exercising device



y 1945- c. c. MOSHIER 2,376,000

FOOT-EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7

. INVENTOR. Charles C. Moshier Fig. 0 W, #M

ATroPA/E Patented May 15, 1945 UNITED STATES EPATENT OFFICE FOOT-EXERCISING DEVICE Charles C. Moshier, Maud, Ohio Application December 24, 1942, Serial No. 470,001

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a foot-exercising device. It has to do, more particularly, with a device for subjecting the front portion of the foot to a circular movement while holding the rear portion of the foot in fixed position, exercising the joints of the feet, ligaments, muscles and facia around the joints, assists in maintaining proper blood circulation and helps to relieve nerve pressure.

It is understood that the device herein described is to be used only in connection with. the treatment of substantially normal feet and it is not intended for use in connection with seriously deformed feet or feet having other serious foot ailments which surgery alone can cure.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a device for holding the heel of the foot in fixed position and at the same time imparting a circular motion to the front portion of the foot thus flexing the middle portion of the foot.

. Another object of my invention is to provide a device which will so exercise the muscles and joints of the foot that normal circulation of blood to the foot will be restored.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which will so treat the foot that it will relieve nerve pressure caused by the bones of the foot being out of normal position and thus pinching the nerves.

Another object of my invention is to provide a foot-exercising device which can be adjusted so that the successive treatments can be made more intense as the exercising program proceeds.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which when used to treat the foot will strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the foot so that the bones will not-be so apt to pull out of place.

Another object of my invention-is to provide a foot-exercising device which requires no further attention on the part of the operator once the exerciser has been adjusted and started.

Another object of my invention is to provide a foot-exercis ng device which can be adjusted to fit any size foot.

Another object .of my invention is to provide a foot-exerciser which is inexpensive to construct.

Various other objects will be apparent from the drawings, the following description and the claims.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is a foot-exercising device constructed so that the heel of the foot is held in fixed position while the toes are manipulated in a circular movement which will necessarily flex the mid-portion of the foot. The device is operated by an electric motor of the reversible type and is adjustabl so that the treatment can be intensified or lessened depending upon the patient being treated. The circular movement imparted to the toe members will necessarily impart a slight longitudinal action between the toes and the metatarsal joint of the foot. A support member bears against the middle arch and is reciprocated forwardly and rearwardly by means of the reversible electric motor. This support exerts a vertical and longitudinal pressure on the middle arch of the foot.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyin drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly'broken away, showing a foot-exercising device constructed according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view, partly broken away, of the forward portion of the footexercising device.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of my device.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the structure set out in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Figure 5.

With reference to the drawings, I provide a rectangular housing member having a bottom portion I, side walls 2 and a forward end wall 3. The rear end of the housing is left open. The Side walls 2 are inclined downwardly and rearwardly from a point intermed ate their ends.

The front ends of the side walls 2 ar connected to the forward end wall 3. The shape of the housing is best shown in Figures 1 and 3.

A top panel portion 4 is connected to the end wall 3 by means of a hinge 5. The panel 4 is rigidly secured to vertical panel portion 6. An electric motor I with a gear reducing unit 8 is bolted to the member 6 by means of the bolts 9. As can be seen. the member 6 is not attached to the side wall 2 but merely fits tightly against the wall. Th foot-exercising unit is supported at its front end by the member 6 and at its rear end by the screw member I!) which is carried by the bottom portion 1 of the housing. The screw I0 is supported for pivotal movement by a pin H held in place by ear members I2. The bracket and ear members are suitably attached to the bottom I of the housing. The screw I9 extends loosely up through a sleeve Illa carried by the rear end of a floor portion !4. The portion I4 extends upwardly between side walls 2 and is connected to a lateral extension 641 of member 9. An adjustable hand nut I3 is disposed on said screw, and bears against the floor portion I4 of th exercising unit. Thus, it will be seen that the height of the rear end of the exercising unit can be varied by turning the hand nut I3 carried on the screw I0. Since the front end of the unit is pivotally held by the hinge member 5, when the pin is removed from the hinge, the entire exercising unit can be removed from the housing,

The exercising unit comprises three main parts, namely, the toe-clamping unit !5, the main arch manipulating unit I6 and the heelsupporting unit I1. These units will be discussed in detail in the above-indicated order.

The electric motor I is of the reversible type and has a gear reduction unit 8 formed integral therewith. As indicated above, the motor and gear reduction unit are supported on the member 6 by means of the bolts 9.

Extending out of the gear reduction member 8 is a driven shaft member Ill. The shaft I8 has a worm I9 formed thereon adjacent member 8 and its outer end has a sleeve keyed there on by means of the screw 2|. Formed integral with the sleeve 20 is a crank arm 22 extending at right angles to shaft I8. The arm 22 has a slot 23 formed in the center thereof and running longitudinally of the arm. 'A screw 24 is adapted to pass through said slot 23 and is held in place by means of a collar portion 25 and a wing nut 26. The wing nut 26 holds the screw and collar portion in adjusted position in the slot 23. Formed on theother end of the collar portion 25 is a universal joint 21.

The toe-clamping unit I5 comprises a pair of horizontal plates 28 and 29 which are carried by a pair of jaw members 30 and 3I. members 30 and 3| are carried on the socket end of th universal joint 21. The jaws are hinged at 32 to allow for positioning the toes between the plates 28 and 29. A tightening screw 33 has wing nuts 34 associated therewith. The toe plates 28 and 29 have sponge rubber or other suitable material attached to the inside thereof to prevent injury to the toes gripped thereby.

The worm I9 cooperates with a gear I9a which is keyed on the upper end of the vertical shaft 35. The shaft 35 is supported by the sleeve 35 which is suitably bolted to the electric motor I, at 31. On the lower end of the shaft 35 is a worm 38 which cooperates with a gear 39 carried by a horizontally disposed shaft 40. The shaft 40 is supported by bearing M at the forward end of the device and by bearing 42 at the rear. The bearing members are suitably bolted to the floor ortion I4. The shaft 40 has a threaded portion 49a disposed intermediate its ends. The floor portion I4 is attached at its forwardend to the plate 6 and its rear end is supported by the hand nut I3 on the screw II, as was previously described.

A screw threaded bearing 43 is mounted on the shaft 49 and cooperates with the threaded portion 40a. The bearing 43 has a vertical support member 44 formed on its upper side. The support extends upwardly through a slot 45 formed in the floor portion I4. On the upper end The jaw III of the support is an arch support I6 which is of relatively hard material so that when the foot "s positioned thereon it will manipulate the main arch of the foot in the manner to be described. On the support 44 between the bearing 43 and the arch support I6 is a vertical bearing member 46. The bearing 46 has a collar portion 41 which bears against the plate 48 carried by the floor oortion I4. The plate 48 surrounds the longitudinal slot 45 formed in the floor portion. The bearing 46 and the collar 41 prevent the weight of the foot from being thrown on the threads of the bearing 43. The collar 41 rides on the plate 48 when the bearing 43 is reciprocated as will be subsequently described.

A mercury switch 49 is mounted beneath the, bearing 43. Cam points 43a carried by the hearing 43 engage the cam points 49a on the ends of the switch 49 and serve to actuate the motor I. The switch 49 is of the conventional type and will, therefore, not be discused in detail.

It will be seen that when switch 49 is actuated the shaft 40 is rotated in one direction and longitudinal movement of member I6 will occur. This motion will be reversed when the mercury switch 49 is actuated again since the motor I will reverse the direction of rotation of the shaft 40. Thus, member 43 is moved back and forth and at the extent of movement in each direction it actuates switch 49 to reverse the motor.

The heel support I! is carried by a bearing ember 50 which is mounted for sliding movement on a horizontal rod member 5|. The rod member 5| is supported by a U-shaped bracket member 52 which is suitably bolted to the floor portion I4. The bearing member 50 has a key member 50a which rides in a groove 52a formed in the bracket member 52. The bearing is normally held at the forward end of the rod member 5| by means of a spring 53. The heel support also straps 54 and54a for holding the foot in position as shown in Figure 1. It will be noted that the heel support does not have any positive means for moving the heel but that it holds the heel in fixed position while the toe-clamping unit manipulates the foot in a manner to be subsequently described.

It can be seen that the entire foot-exercising mechanism can be raised or lowered by means of the hand nut I3 which is carried by the screw II]. All of the parts of the device are either supported or held in fixed relationship to the floor member I4 and that raising of the floor member at the rear will result in a corresponding change in any of the other actuating parts.

The operation of the device shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 will now be described. The foot is placed in proper position on the foot-exerciser and secured by the toe plates 28 and 29 and strap members 54a. The motor I is actuated, and, through the gear reduction unit 8, rotates the shaft member I8 and also rotates the parts associated therewith. The toe-clamping unit is re volved as a unit about the axis of shaft I8. During this movement the clamping plates, by means of the universal joint 25, will swing about pivot 32 and rotate relative to member 25. The plates 28 and 29 are held in a horizontal plane during the rotation due to the action of the universal joint. The motion on the toe members of the foot is circular and can be varied in extent by adjusting the screw 24 in the slot 23 of the arm 22. It is preferable that when the treatments are first started the adjustment be very near the center of rotation and the treatment can be varled in intensity by merely adjusting the screw in the slot from the center position.

At the same time the toe-clamping unit is being revolved, the worm member 09 carried on the shaft. i8 also rotates the worm gear 9d carried by the vertical shaft 35. The motion is transmitted through the shaft 35 to the worm 38' and then to the gear 39. The gear 39 rotates the horizontal shaft member 40 in the bearing members 4i and 42 which support the shaft. The threaded bearing member 43 which engages the threaded portion 45a of the shaft 40 and which supports the vertical support member of the archmanipulating unit l rides back and forth on the threaded portion 40a. The direction of the bearing member 53 is changed by means of the mercury switch 49 which reverses the motor I when ever the member 63 reaches the extent of its movement in either direction. This switch reverses the motor, thus reversing the rotation of the shaft #8 and also the horizontal shaft 40 as well as reversing the circular motion of the toeclamping unit l5. The arch support It bears against the middle arch of the foot. as the flexing action caused by the rotation of the toeclamping unit is taking place. is moved forwardly and backwardly, due to the slight longitudinal movement of the foot caused by the toe-clamping unit flexing the toes downwardly during the revolving thereof.

In Figures 4, 5, 6 and '7, I have illustrated a modification of my invention. Referring particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that the means for manipulating the toewlamping unit f5a is of a different structure than shown in Figure 1. :1

' has a yoke member 59 formed on the other end.

The member 5'! has a collar portion 60 for holding the crank pin 58 in place in the bushing 56. At the other side of the bushing 56 a washer member BI is held on a threaded reduced portion of the pin 58 by means of a nut 62. The pin 58 is loosely held in bushing 56 so that it Will be free to rotate in the bushing when the crank arm 55 is rotated by the bearing 25a on the shaft l8a.

The yoke member 59 has a tongue member 64 in engagement therewith which is held in place by a pivot pin 63 which passes through a center 5 opening formed in the yoke member. The tongue member 64 supports the toe-clamping unit I5a in the same manner as was described in connection with the preferred form of the invention.

It will be seen that when the shaft 18a is rotated, the bearing 29a will rotate thus revolving the crank arm 55 in a circular path. The toeclamping. unit I5a will remain in horizontal position but will be free to pivot ideways on the pivot pin 63. The crank pin 58 will rotate in the bushing 56 as the crank arm revolves. The bearing a. is free to reciprocate on the splined shaft Iila to compensate for the flexing motion imparted to the toes.

The motion exerted on the toes will still be circular due to the motion of the bearing member a. The same flexing movement will be imparted to the forward end of the foot and will be fulcrumed by the arch-supporting means 16a.

It will be seen that the supporting means I641 The heel support also differs in structure from the form shown in Figure I. In this form I provide a means for exerting a slight vertical pressure against the mldd-le arch, by means of a support Mia, instead of the longitudinal exercising movement provided in the preferred form of the invention. The support l-S'os is carried on a vertical shaft member 65 which is supported by an upstanding U-shaped bracket member 65 a best shown in Figure 4. An opening in the floor Ma permits a bearing member 65 formed on the lower end of the bracket 55 to extend through the floor Ma, The shaft 64 extends through the bearing 66 and is prongshaped at its lower end. A roller member 5'! is carried between the prong-shaped lower endof the shaft 65 by means of a pin 68. The shaft 54 has a collar portion 69 formed thereon to actas a stop member within the U-shaped bracket member 65. The shaft 64 is normally held downwardly by means of a spring 10 disposed on the shaft intermediate the bracket arms and which holds the collar 59 against the lower bracket arm 65.

Adapted to bear against the roller member 87 is a cam portion TI carried by the horizontal shaft member 40. The cam portion H is keyed on the shaft and is rotated when the shaft is rotated. The roller 61 carried by the vertical shaft 64 is raised against the action of the spring 15 by contact with the cam portion II. This motion exerts a vertical pressure on the middle arch of the foot.

The means for reversing the motor 1 is also slightly different from the structure shown in Figure l. The shaft 40 has the same threaded portion a as shown in Figure 1 but the bearing member 43a. does not move the arch support l6 as in the preferred form of my invention. The mercury switch is pivotally supported below the bearing 43a in a suitable manner. A portion 43b engages the cam points carried by the mercury switch 49a. The bearing 43a is carried by means of a key member 430 which rides in a keyway 43d which is suitably bolted to the floor portion Ma. As the shaft 40 is rotated, the bearing 43a moves in one direction until the portion 43b engages one of the cam points of the murcy switch 49a which is then actuated.

This reverses the motor thus causing the shaft 4B and the bearing 43a to move in the opposite direction.

In using my foot-exercising device, the forward end of the foot is subjected to a circular motion While the rear end of the foot is held relatively non-rotatable. This motion results in a flexing action from the arch of the foot to the toes. This circular motion is common to both forms of my invention. In the preferred form illustrated inFigures 1, 2 and 3 I provide a means for simultaneously imparting longitudinal motion to the arch-engaging member so as to apply longitudinal pressure on the arch of the foot. This movement as well as the circular movement on the forward end of the foot is reversed at regular intervals by means of the reversible motor.

In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and '7, the same circular motion is imparted to the forward end of the foot while a vertical pressure is exerted at intervals on the arch of the foot. The rear portlon of the foot is held relatively non-rotatable. This vertical pressure is slight and tends to exert a slight longitudinal motion on the rear portion of the foot. The vertical pressure is 'exerted on the arch once during every complete revolution of the forward end of the foot. As in the preferred embodiment of my invention, the circular motion is reversed at intervals. These motions are necessary to assist in restoring the foot to the normal condition.

In the drawings and in particular in that part of the drawings which illustrate the toe-manipulating means, it has been necessary to exaggerate the dimensions of the parts in order to properly present the same. The proportions of the various units when compared to the foot may in some cases be exaggerated. The motion imparted to the'toes can be varied from the slightest degree to a point where the force is rather extreme but this motion will not be suflicient to injure the foot.

From the above description, it will be apparent that I provide a foot-exercising device having a number of advantages. One of the principal advantages of my invention is that I provide a device which will exercise and strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the human foot in such a manner as to relieve nerve pressure, caused by the bones pinching the nerves between joints. The device imparts a circular flexing motion to the front of the foot from-the metatarsal joint to the tip of the toes which stimulates the flow of blood to the tissues of the foot. It is possible with this device to vary the degree of treatment in accordance with the patients needs.

Many other advantages will be apparent from the above description, the drawings and the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A foot-exercising device comprising a toeclamping unit, a crank arm for supporting said toe-clamping unit, a universal joint disposed between said crank arm and said toe-clamping unit,means for rotating said crank arm, a 1ongitudinal arch-supporting unit, said arch-supporting unit comprising an arch-engaging member supported on a vertical shaft, a threaded bearing member formed on the lower end of said vertical shaft, a longitudinally disposed threaded shaft for supporting said bearing member and adapted to move it longitudinally, a heel-supporting unit, a longitudinal horizontally -disposed rod member adapted to carry said heelsupporting unit so as to permit longitudinal movement only thereof, and means for rotating said. shaft.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein means is provided to reverse the movement of said crank arm and said shaft at intervals.

3. A foot-exercising device comprising a toeclamping unit, a crank arm for supporting said toe-clamping unit, means disposed between said crank arm and said toe-clamping unit, means for rotating said crank arm, a longitudinal archsupporting unit, said arch-supporting unit comprising an arch-engaging member supported on a vertical shaft, a longitudinally-disposed threaded shaft, means connecting said vertical shaft to ,said longitudinally disposed shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a heel-supporting unit, and a longitudinal horizontally disposed rod member adapted to carry said heel-supporting unit, thus permitting longitudinal movement only thereof.

4. A structure according to claim 3 wherein means is provided to simultaneously reverse the movement of said crank arm and said shaft at predetermined intervals.

CHARLES C. MOSHIER. 

